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Best Product ReviewsWed, 01 Aug 2018 16:42:41 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8Sparkster: Decentralized Software Creation Without the Technical Knowhowhttp://reviewtech.info/sparkster/
http://reviewtech.info/sparkster/#respondFri, 15 Jun 2018 12:28:43 +0000http://reviewtech.info/?p=3752Computer programing is an ever-evolving field. There are many languages, protocols, and technical aspects that interact. Although useful, we rarely teach these skills and languages at schools. This makes even the thought of developing a decentralized app a daunting prospect for the average person. As a result, fantastic ideas often go by the way. That’s what Sparkster hopes to change. Sparkster ...

]]>Computer programing is an ever-evolving field. There are many languages, protocols, and technical aspects that interact. Although useful, we rarely teach these skills and languages at schools. This makes even the thought of developing a decentralized app a daunting prospect for the average person. As a result, fantastic ideas often go by the way. That’s what Sparkster hopes to change.

Sparkster is a company that intends to give innovative people the ability to create their own decentralized software, even if they know nothing about programming or blockchain architecture. They claim to make building applications very easy, and offer the ability to connect to popular services when the app is complete. In this article, we’ll examine in further detail what Sparkster is, how it works, and how their SPAK token is implemented in their ecosystem.

What is Sparkster?

The Sparkster platform allows people to bring their ideas to reality. That’s the company’s ethos, anyway. They recognize that many people have great ideas for new software, but may be lacking the technical skillset to make them happen. Sparkster allows users of their platform to develop their own innovative software without needing to know any code at all. Their decentralized cloud for smart software enables businesses and individuals to create applications without needing to rely on software agencies or third parties.

The platform gives users the ability to use pre-made blocks in a drag-and-drop format to create their ideal software. Rather than having to learn a complex coding language, each element is described in plain English. This means that entrepreneurs can both define and understand the elements of their own unique software. The code for this is then generated in the backend without the user having to write it.

The UK-based firm has a background in eCommerce and software as a service. In 2014, they began working on the concept of Sparkster, before releasing the platform to a private beta in 2017. The company is currently taking signups for their crowdsale.

How Does Sparkster Work?

There are three main components to the platform:

Building Interfaces. The block-based user interface gives users intuitive units of code that they can drag and drop as they require. These interfaces are built in HTML5, meaning that they are compatible across most devices.

Logic Blocks. These simple blocks can be snapped together to develop a wide variety of combinations of functionality. This means that users can build applications that are specific to their needs or business niche.

Connectivity. Once a user has created their unique user interface, Sparkster allows account holders to integrate their app with other major services. This includes both internal Sparkster apps, and external services. Examples of the latter include APIs, smart contracts, AI, or Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

One of the big selling points of the platform is its scalability. Not only can small enterprises or individuals develop their apps, but larger organizations can too. Part of this scalability comes from the security of the platform. All data transfer is encrypted, regardless of whether it’s external or internal. Furthermore, each data transaction is authenticated too. This scalability and security is inherent to the platform, meaning that businesses of all sizes can make use of it.

TECH STACK

What is the SPARK Token?

As Sparkster state in their whitepaper, “the SPARK token provides a vehicle for consumers of Sparkster-authored components to compensate the author for their contribution, and gives authors an incentive to contribute to our Marketplace.” The ERC20-based token is what powers and incentives the platform. It allows for micropayments to be made to the authors of innovative software and applications developed on the site. It will be the only currency that users can transact in. Miners will also be rewarded for their contribution of processing power from smartphones and IoT devices that run Sparkster software.

A token presale is set for June/July 2018. The total supply of SPARK is 435,000,000, with a total circulating supply of 290,000,000. 250,000,000 will be up for grabs during the presale, with 38,000,000 allocated for the crowdsale and 2,000,000 allocated for marketing. Each token will be valued at $0.15, with a soft cap of $5 million and a hard cap of $30 million.

Sparkster Final Thoughts

The mission of Sparkster is certainly an ambitious one. Software programing is hard to master, so the opportunity for people who lack that knowledge to create software still is an appealing prospect. The company is currently beta testing their platform, which is a good sign. However, it remains to be seen how useful it will prove to be. Their goals for their presale are fairly modest compared to some, yet with enough momentum, Sparkster could prove to be a company and platform that brings a whole new level of ingenuity to the market.

]]>http://reviewtech.info/sparkster/feed/0How Mainframe Hopes to Change Online Communicationhttp://reviewtech.info/how-mainframe-hopes-to-change-online-communication/
http://reviewtech.info/how-mainframe-hopes-to-change-online-communication/#respondThu, 22 Mar 2018 19:01:14 +0000http://reviewtech.info/?p=3669If the recent news surrounding Cambridge Analytica is anything to go by, it’s clear that the way personal data is being treated needs to change. Although in Europe, changes such as the GDPR are trying to give users greater control over what personal data they hand over, and what it’s used for, there’s still a long way ...

If the recent news surrounding Cambridge Analytica is anything to go by, it’s clear that the way personal data is being treated needs to change. Although in Europe, changes such as the GDPR are trying to give users greater control over what personal data they hand over, and what it’s used for, there’s still a long way to go. Enter Mainframe, a company dedicated to decentralizing and securing the way organizations communicate online.

Mainframe’s blockchain-based platform uses innovative technology to provide a secure, decentralized network that is resistant to censorship, using end-to-end encryption. Although their goals are lofty, the company has already shown off an early build of their platform. As they ramp up their publicity and funding, we’ll take a closer look at Mainframe. In this article we’ll discuss what Mainframe is, how the technology works, and why we need it.

What is Mainframe?

You can read Mainframe’s full whitepaper over at their website. It gives a good mix of both the technical details of the platform, as well as some layman explanations. As we established in the introduction though, Mainframe is a secure, decentralized communications network. This doesn’t just apply to person-to-person messaging, but encompasses many forms of data packet transfer. It’s resistant to censorship, surveillance, and interference, and relies on a decentralized peer-to-peer network of nodes to power it. This means that no matter what, the network will keep running and keep your communications secure.

Mainframe demonstrated one of their applications, Onyx, at Devcon3 developers’ conference at the end of 2017, and the messaging service is now available in beta stage to download. They promise that it will deliver a secure platform for ‘internal communications for companies dealing with sensitive information and high liability, as in sectors like health care, finance, and government.’ It’s a system equivalent to a decentralized Slack with ‘dark routing’ and other features. Onyx and the Mainframe infrastructure are in their early stages, but what it promises is intriguing and potentially game-changing. As founder Mick Hagen puts it, ‘This isn’t a project, this is a movement. We aim to create a new layer of the internet where privacy and freedom are first class citizens.’

How does it Work?

There are five main points that Mainframe focuses on when explaining how their systems work. We’ve summed up each one below for greater clarity:

Encryption

This plays a big role in the plans Mainframe have for their platform. It’s impossible for an outside party to view content that you send via the protocol thanks to the end-to-end encryption that is used. In layman’s terms, this means that messages you send on the platform, regardless of whether on a P2P or group basis, remain private.

Dark routing

This is one of the features that make Mainframe so impressive. The company claims that it is ‘effectively impossible’ for an outside agency to identify, monitor, or trace the communication between two parties. The platform utilizes multiple ‘nodes’ to disperse data across the network, but only the target node can read the data packet sent.

Incentivization

Mainframe has created their own digital token, known as MFT, to foster growth and participation in their systems. Users can create the ‘nodes’ we mentioned above, whereby they dedicate bandwidth towards the services that run on the Mainframe platform. The user can then determine the services, pricing, and medium of exchange for use of their node. They are rewarded in MFT. Although technically a digital currency, Mainframe stated that it’s not a trade investment in the same way other cryptocurrencies are.

Peer-to-Peer Architecture

In order to combat service outages and preserve the integrity of their network, Mainframe runs on a peer-to-peer infrastructure. This means it’s not reliant on specific nodes or connections to keep it live, services are distributed across the network.

Interoperability

The aim of the company is to provide this secure, persistent, and decentralized platform to any app, network or blockchain that uses it. Providing that a company or service provider can prove that their needs and intentions match up with the Mainframe ethos, a service development kit will be provided to them.

Mainframe Potential

Organizations that are concerned with security breaches, third-party interference, and services outages should take note. Mainframe aims to release the shackles of existing corporate communication structures with their decentralized platform. The implications are potentially huge, and could change the way people communicate online.

However, although the company is making waves online and has shown encouraging progress so far, it’s too early to tell whether their potential will be met. Mainframe’s roadmap and strategy for delivery still seems a little vague, and it’s difficult to see just how they aim to deliver the widespread usage of the platform. Although the Onyx messenger system seems like a solid start, they still have the likes of Slack and many, many others to compete with. But their decentralized privacy offers a distinct advantage to those in need.

Overall, Mainframe is an exciting prospect that deserves close attention. Their ethos seems to genuinely promote a decentralized and secure way of communicating. Giving power and freedom back to the people seems to be their true goal, and the technologies that they’ve built to achieve this are intriguing to say the least. It’s impossible to say right now whether they’re capable of delivering all they intend, but the early signs are certainly encouraging.

]]>http://reviewtech.info/how-mainframe-hopes-to-change-online-communication/feed/0Avast vs Norton: Which Keeps your Computer Safer?http://reviewtech.info/avast-vs-norton-which-keeps-your-computer-safer/
http://reviewtech.info/avast-vs-norton-which-keeps-your-computer-safer/#respondTue, 10 Oct 2017 14:27:23 +0000http://reviewtech.info/?p=3536If you are searching for reliable antivirus software for your computer, figuring which one best addresses your specific needs and budget can be quite difficult given the large number of options you have to choose from. If you spend enough time going through all the information you can get on the internet, your search will ...

]]>If you are searching for reliable antivirus software for your computer, figuring which one best addresses your specific needs and budget can be quite difficult given the large number of options you have to choose from.

If you spend enough time going through all the information you can get on the internet, your search will eventually lead you to these two extremely popular antivirus software options: Avast and Norton.

Before we try to decipher which of these two systems reigns supreme, let us take a closer look at each one:

Avast

Avast provides all of the basics one would want from an antivirus system. It allows you to browse the web safely and blocks any malicious attacks that come your way. It provides an additional firewall, gives you improved privacy, and helps you deal with the hordes of spam that you are constantly being bombarded with.

Avast also offers a feature known as “Safezone” that allows gamers to navigate potentially dangerous servers without having their PC compromised. It provides an added layer of security for all of your game profiles and private information – like your credit card information – associated with your profile.

The one glaring weakness of Avast is the lack of parental controls. However, it is free to download and use, and it certainly offers a lot of features.

Norton

Without a doubt, Norton is the more established brand when it comes to providing internet security. The brand is recognized all over the world, even by those who aren’t computer savvy. It does an excellent job of defending your computer from any malicious programs that come its way, and it also give you more options as far as how you want to deal with each particular threat it finds. That might not mean much to those who aren’t particularly knowledgeable about the inner workings of a computer, but technology geeks will certainly appreciate it.

Norton is well-known for providing stellar coverage across a wide range of devices, and that has led to a few accolades for the software brand over the years, including a bronze award for AV testing.

With Norton, the user is in full control of how the software works. There are easy-to-use parental controls that give parents the ability to control what their children can do on the computer when they are not around. If you need to free up some processing power, there is a sleep mode that allows Norton to run in the background. Norton also monitors your network for any disruptions or attacks. There’s also a two-way firewall.

Another noteworthy feature of Norton; it helps you create a recovery disc that can be used to backup your operating system and most important files. If your computer ends up crashing or becomes unrecoverable for any reason.

Norton does all the little things you don’t always think to do. It scans discs that are inserted automatically, addressing any malicious programs that might be hidden in it before there is an opportunity for the virus to infect other files. It also scans attachments you receive with your messages to ensure they are safe before you download them.

There is a well-established customer support system that can be reached at any time of the day, so there is always someone to talk to if you require assistance. Norton’s support staff is well known for how quickly they respond to support tickets.

Comparing the two systems

Just by going over these two systems individually, it’s hard to argue against the fact that Norton offers a lot more protection and features. That’s to be expected considering the fact that Norton is one of the older antivirus software manufacturers, so the company has had lots of time to fine-tune their product.

The only thing that makes some people hesitate before committing to Norton is that it requires a paid subscription to use. From time to time, the company does offer limited promotions, typically a 30-day free trial. If you have not used a free trial for their software in the past, you might be eligible to try it out for free.

Regardless of if you decide to continue with a paid subscription or not, Norton is certainly the more complete package.

The best thing about Avast is the fact that it is completely free, so, if you end up with a PC that does not have any current protection, and you do not feel like shelling out a few bucks to purchase a Norton subscription, getting Avast’s free antivirus software is the next best thing. With Avast, you still get all the basic things that you need to keep your computer safe from the typical threats that you are exposed to when surfing the internet.

Malicious scripts are automatically blocked. You can scan your system for known threats, and the software automatically removes any virus it detects during the scan. You also have the option of performing a quick scan, which only targets the locations on your PC that are most susceptible to attacks. Another noteworthy feature is the boot-scan option. This allows you to scan your entire system before your operating system is booted. This is especially useful if you have malware that’s hidden when your PC is running.

It is no surprise that Avast is one of the most downloaded antivirus software systems in the world. It’s hard to believe that something that’s free can be so useful. If you decide to upgrade to a subscription, you get access to a few more features like the “Real Site” feature that helps you detect phishing sites and other shady websites. With a paid subscription, you also get access to a sandbox which you can use to test any files you want virtually without any risk to your PC. You will also be able to utilize the firewall when you get a paid subscription.

Wrapping up

As you can see from all the information we shared above, Norton and Avast are two excellent options to go with if your goal is to keep your computer safe from online threats. Norton is the more comprehensive program, but that comes with a price tag. Norton isn’t just an antivirus system, it a complete PC management tool.

Avast on the other hand is a complete antivirus program that will keep your computer safe when you browse the web, and it has a few features that help you manage your computer as well. All of these come free of charge, and if you are willing to spend a little to upgrade to a subscription, you get access to a few more tools and features.

It comes down to what works best for you. If you are simply looking for a way to protect your PC, Avast is the way to go. If you are looking for a way to manage your PC, and control how others in your home can use it and your internet network, and keep all your important files regularly backed up, the benefits you would get from a Norton subscription surely outweigh the costs.

Norton key features

Virus scans

Helps monitor wireless network

Creates backup files

Parental controls leave you in charge

Excellent support staff

Firewall

Avast key features

]]>http://reviewtech.info/avast-vs-norton-which-keeps-your-computer-safer/feed/0McAfee vs Norton Anti-Virus, which is the best?http://reviewtech.info/mcafee-vs-norton-anti-virus/
http://reviewtech.info/mcafee-vs-norton-anti-virus/#respondThu, 24 Aug 2017 19:10:46 +0000http://reviewtech.info/?p=3429The battle is on, now let’s find out whether McAfee or Norton is the best antivirus checker. We all know the names, but which of these two anti-virus programs is really best? Both McAfee and Norton are legends within the antivirus industry, holding equally solid reputations as very effective virus checkers that can be used ...

]]>The battle is on, now let’s find out whether McAfee or Norton is the best antivirus checker.

We all know the names, but which of these two anti-virus programs is really best?

Both McAfee and Norton are legends within the antivirus industry, holding equally solid reputations as very effective virus checkers that can be used on a range of different operating systems, including Windows, iMac, and Google’s Android.

Without expert insider knowledge or the huge resources required to test these two antivirus programs yourself, it really is hard to choose between them or any other program on the market for that matter. So to help you out, this article is going to closely examine the differences between these two programs so that we can tell you which really is the top antivirus checker, McAfee or Norton?

Why do I need a virus checker anyway?

We are living in an increasingly complex security environment, where we now require full time active protection from all manner of threats. Whether it is internet browsing protection, secure interfacing between our different devices, or safe interconnection with our cloud platforms, antivirus programs have more doors than ever to watch.

Today, we not only face more threats, but more types of threats than ever before. So complicated have these threats become in their breadth and form that the industry no longer uses the term virus to define them all but rather a variety of terms that include malware, trojans, worms, spyware, rootkit, and ransomware. To learn more about the history of antivirus software click here.

To give you an idea of the enormity of the problem as well as some insight into why having the best possible security is so important; here are some figures from 2016 concerning the number of attacks that US households alone have faced.

Number homes that have experienced a serious virus problem in the past 2 years -16 million

Have had spyware problems in the past 6 months – 8 million

Have lost money by phishing scams – 1 million

Total number all US households that have been affected by viruses – 40 %

The problem with so called virus software is that it cannot protect against viruses until after they have been first discovered and solved. Since these viruses spread very quickly, it is really important to find a virus program with a high detection rate as well as one that minimizes the disruption it causes to computer performance.

What do you need to consider when buying a new antivirus program?

Finding the right virus checker can be quite time-consuming, how time consuming exactly depends on the complexity of the system and environment that you wish it to work in. A large server system that is interfacing with a number of hardware options will require a greater level of protection than a standalone home computer, for example, and will therefore require much more time to research.

For the purpose of this article, we are going to assume that you are someone who is looking to protect a standalone private computer from the normal types of attack that such a system might expect to face.

In this case, here are a few features to look out for:

Free or Paid Plan – Usually this influences the level of protection.

If you are using Windows 10 and are worried about compatibility issues, read this.

Included features:

In order to ensure even the most basic level of protection your virus checker should have the following:

Real-time Scanner

Scheduled Scans

Real Time Browser Protection

Instant Messaging Protection

Automatic Virus Updates

Automatic Program Updates

Let the battle commence: MacAfee vs. Norton

MacAfee

Named after its eccentric founder John MacAfee, who was one of the first people to popularize the use and importance of antivirus software, MacAfee AntiVirus offers a free basic security scan program for PC’s, but if you want a good level of active protection, you are going to have to pay for it.

All of their 3 types of protection options are available with a free 30 day trial.

McAfee® AntiVirus Plus – Yearly Plan – $29.99

McAfee® Total Protection – Yearly Plan – $79.99

McAfee® LiveSafe – Yearly Plan – $99.95

For the sake of this comparison, we are going to look at McAfee® AntiVirus Plus plan as this is the most popular choice amongst home owners.

Norton

Norton was also an early player in the antivirus game, later being bought out by Symantec who continued the company under the same name. The company has placed a special emphasis on keeping its virus detection rates as high as possible to give it the edge on its competitors. To date, Norton is a seven-time winner of PC Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award, proving that it really gets the job done consistently.

Like MacAfee, Norton offers 3 main levels of protection for home users that are also available with free 30 day trials.

Norton Security Standard – Yearly Plan – $69.99

Norton Security Deluxe – Yearly Plan – $89.99

Norton Security Premium – Yearly Plan – $109.99

To make things even, we will compare Norton Security Standard with McAfee® AntiVirus Plus. The latter of the two scores the opening victory, being $40 cheaper.

Though an antivirus’ user interface might not be thought to be that important when it comes down to it, appearance and ease of use can make all the difference to whether people like a particular anti-virus program and how well they are able to use it. Surveys have shown that people like convenient, easy to navigate interfaces that don’t interfere with other things that they are doing. So with this in mind, how do our two antivirus programs compare?

MacAfee has largely continued to use the same interface style for the last decade with very few changes. The interface feels a little old fashioned now and honestly, could do with an overhaul. That said, it is still fairly easy to navigate around all the main functions, though some aspects of the interface may still confuse people.

Norton has really come from behind in this area, and now has arguably the best interface of all. It feels really modern and responsive as well as being really easy to navigate. Even a total beginner can find their way around in a matter of minutes, something which makes this a much better interface than MacAfee’s.

MacAfee’s virus checker is underperforms in virus removal compared to Norton. While Norton is able to remove most of the detected viruses, or at least effectively quarantine them, MacAfee is not always able to effectively isolate select deep routed viruses. Part of this success lies with Norton’s ability to fix deeply embedded infections by creating and running an alternate recovery system reboot, after which, it is then able to successfully remove even the most deep rooted viruses with ease.

This fact has huge potential ramifications for infected computers as should a virus slip past MacAfee’s security detection and plant itself in the computer, once it detects the virus, it still won’t be able to properly remove it, leaving you in deep trouble.

Because McAfee® AntiVirus Plus and Norton Security Standard are the most basic antivirus programs offered by the two companies, they don’t feature a lot in the way of additional security features. Here are a few of the ones that they do:

Phishing Protection

One important feature that they both offer is Anti-Phishing protection. Phishing is big business and has affected millions of people. Antivirus programs now help to spot phishing scams and warn the user. According to our tests, MacAfee fared better in this area, being able to detect more phishing threats than Norton.

Identification Protection

Another area where MacAfee performs exceedingly well is protecting your online identity and keeping passwords safe. Well-developed parental controls reinforce this security net helping to keep your children protected too. Norton has its own system that it calls Identity Safe, which on the whole, is evenly matched with the MacAfee system, making them both viable solutions in this area.

Firewall

Though the MacAfee software has an effective firewall, Norton seems to have a much bigger list of unsafe or undesirable sites which it will step into block. This might be excellent in helping to prevent unwanted cookies and spyware, but it can be a real nuisance at times when you just want to be free to view different sites. Fortunately, this feature can be adjusted to allow a lower level of protection and therefore prevent fewer sites from being blocked.

Virus checkers differ quite significantly when it comes to how fast and efficiently they run alongside your computers normal operations. This is an area that can really affect whether people want to use the software or not. Even if a particular antivirus program has the best virus detection and removal rate in the world, if it slows up the user’s computer or takes hours to complete a scan then they are just not going to want to use it. Though performance drag won’t be so noticeable on faster computers, if you are using an older computer that lacks ram, in particular, then you might suffer from your computer slowing down with more resource heavy antivirus software.

MacAfee’s virus checker is really good at using the minimal possible resources and therefore not slowing up your computer a great deal. Norton on the other hand is known for causing computer performance to drop, though this is becoming less of an issue on current versions of their software.

Norton has a great update feature called Norton Pulse, which updates virus databases every 5 to 15 minutes. Though if you are on a very slow internet this could be a minor frustration, it otherwise doesn’t do much in the way of slowing up overall system performance and really makes sure you are protected even against the most recent threats.

MacAfee’s update doesn’t update so regularity, which technically makes the software a little less safe. When it does update, however, it is completely unnoticeable, not causing any system slow down whatsoever.

Other notable features

One of the things that is also really nice with the MacAfee protection plan is that with just one license it is possible to use their security protection with all your PC’s, laptops, tabs, and phones. This is a really nice feature as it means that you only need to pay once and with that all your devices will be secured. According to their site, you can connect an unlimited number of devices under one membership, which massively surpasses Norton’s one device per membership policy.

Norton’s offers some of the best IM and chat protection, as well as the best social network protection in the business. Really good parental controls allow you to limit your children’s exposure and protect them from getting to undesirable sites and chat rooms. Many parents will be happy with the addition of their Safe Web for Facebook feature that is able to detect threatening links on Facebook walls that could allow for security breaches such as web cams being hijacked, for example.

Both companies offer a money back guarantee where they will refund you 100% of your money should their program fail to remove a virus from your computer after you install it. For reasons unknown, most antivirus companies only offer 30 days while Norton offers a 60 day period in which to get your money back. Though the difference is rather irrelevant, if you are someone who takes a long time to get around to things then Norton is the one to choose.

Conclusion

Both MacAfee and Norton have their strengths and weaknesses. For us, Norton is a clear winner when it comes to protecting your computer from unwanted viruses, malware, spyware and more. It has a better overall detection rate and is far better at removing deep viruses than MacAfee AntiVirus.

That said, the MacAfee virus checker still does a pretty respectable job detecting viruses, and does have a number of advantages such as running better on slower machines. And don’t forget, if budget is your main concern, it is cheaper as well.